What is shaping you and where are you headed? To properly answer these questions, you must grasp the two paths that confront every man, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:2). So what drives your affections at the core—God or the world? Do you desire to be relieved from sinful bondage and find the pathway of true joy and blessing? Then your course must be this—resist being conformed to the world’s mold, even as you strive to transform your mind and priorities into God’s image.  

 

Sermon: https://churchandfamilylife.com/sermons/67ea30016200ad542ee6a07b

Here's the big question. What is shaping you and where are you headed? Romans 12 to addresses it and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." This verse is about the blessings of transformation. You get inserted into the kingdom of God, which is the kingdom of light and life and blessing. It's the happy path actually.

It's a transformation from one kingdom to another. And of course, this all begins, it's explained in Romans 12.1, present your bodies a living sacrifice. This is practical Christianity. A person presents his whole life to God and says, you are my authority, you are my king, you are my joy, I need you Lord. And what happens as a result of that?

Well, the big question here is what is shaping you? What is it? Your family shapes you, your friends shape you, your culture shapes you, your fears shape you, what people think of you shapes you. And what the apostle Paul is telling the Roman church is that there are two paths of life, being conformed to the world and being transformed. So there's this negative, do not be conformed to this world.

That's a danger to avoid. Any person should take action to to resist the conformity of the world. The world is seeking to press you into its mold. That's why Paul told the Ephesian church that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk in the futility of their mind, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Well, there's still remaining worldliness in every believer.

So God is taking the believer and he is progressively removing the vestiges of sin. And he uses a word that is common in English, metamorphosis. You know, think of a caterpillar to a butterfly. Think of a tree going from a seed into a giant tree in a forest. You know, back when I was in high school, I saw a bumper sticker that said, be patient with me, God is not finished with me yet.

That's the whole matter of transformation. You look at the characters in the Bible, Abraham, Moses, David, Rahab, all over the Bible, you see how God transforms people into His image. Jesus said that wisdom is tested by her children in Luke 7.35. God's ways are pleasing. God's ways are the best.

The will of God is the place of blessing. It is the happy path. Every true believer really does want to be relieved from the bondage of the world And yet it can be very difficult. It's such a slow process. But Jesus said, if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink, and he who believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart, will flow rivers of living water.

These are the blessings of transformation. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. Scripture Applied is a production of Church and Family Life. Visit ChurchandFamilyLife.com for more resources. Thanks for watching.